Hypothetical Hopkins trade

[Peon Awesome]

Bill Barnwell has an article on ESPN suggesting logical fits for free agents/potential trade candidates. Full article here: Barnwell free agent fits

Here's what he suggests for DeAndre Hopkins:

Possible deal: Traded to the Panthers. In this deal, the Panthers would send the No. 93 selection to the Cardinals, who would pick up $10 million of Hopkins' $19.5 million base salary in 2023. Carolina would also guarantee Hopkins' $14.9 million salary for 2024, putting it on the hook for two years and $24.4 million.

For the Panthers, this would lock in a No. 1 receiver for the first two years of their new quarterback's career. They would sport a much older receiving corps than we see for most rookie quarterbacks -- they would be starting Hopkins and Adam Thielen in Week 1 -- but there's nothing wrong with locking in experienced receivers before working in cheaper options as the quarterback (hopefully) gets closer to earning an extension.

Hopkins wouldn't get an extension, but he would get his 2024 salary guaranteed and have one more shot at free agency in 2025. This isn't a perfect deal for everyone involved, but he would get an additional year of guarantees, the Cardinals would unload salary and get a meaningful draft pick, and the Panthers would get two years of a WR1 at a cost well below market value.

So we give our late 3rd, Arizona eats $10 million of salary and we get Hopkins for 2 years and $24 million? Seems like a great deal for us. Not sure if there are legit talks going on but if this is felt to be reasonable value, hopefully we are having conversations.

[t96]

I do that in a heartbeat. Arizona doesn't even consider it though.

[RJK]

Arizona probably 

[tukafan21]

I still say YGM and our 3rd or 4th should get it done.

Don't even need to have Arizona eat any of the contract either, just sign him to a 2 year extension with the last year of it possibly just a voidable year, but really all it does is guarantee what is already on the contract and then it can be spread out over 4 years for cap purposes.

[LinvilleGorge]

Yep, no hesitation. I would do that deal in a heartbeat. Just be realistic. What are our odds of doing better with the #93 overall pick in the draft? Virtually zero.

Getting a player of his caliber at our biggest position of need (after we take a QB #1 overall) with a late 3rd round pick would feel like stealing.

 

[Fenrir]

No brainer if the Cards are willing to play ball. 

Something tells me they'll want more compensation than that, though. 

[ECHornet]

Yea, that seems too good to be true. 
 

Looking at other trades (Waller, Cooks, E Moore), I guess it’s possible the Cards would demand less to get him off their books. 

[SteveSmithTD89]

According to Pacman Jones' source(s) on the Pat McAfee show today its down to 5 teams: 

 

Atlanta

Pats

Bills

Ravens

Raiders

 

For those not in on the joke. The source(s) is Deandre Hopkins. 

[PantherKyle]

Breer made it seem rookie QB eliminates us. Who knows.

[PantherFanInPhilly]

I read earlier that Hop doesn't want a team with a rookie QB. 

[SmittysLawnGuy]

I wish.

[SmittysLawnGuy]

41 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

I still say YGM and our 3rd or 4th should get it done.

Don't even need to have Arizona eat any of the contract either, just sign him to a 2 year extension with the last year of it possibly just a voidable year, but really all it does is guarantee what is already on the contract and then it can be spread out over 4 years for cap purposes.

Keep that line of thinking up and we will only have 8 players by 2026.

[tukafan21]

26 minutes ago, SteveSmithTD89 said:

According to Pacman Jones' source(s) on the Pat McAfee show today its down to 5 teams: 

 

Atlanta

Pats

Bills

Ravens

Raiders

 

For those not in on the joke. The source(s) is Deandre Hopkins. 

I'll be honest, the only team on that list that makes any sense is the Ravens, odd list.

Falcons are a worse team and will have a worse QB than we will

Raiders and Bills have Adams and Diggs, not sure how either offense can really work and keep everyone happy with two WRs who need double digit targets every game to be happy, only one ball to be thrown around.

And the Patriots OC is Bill O'Brien, can't see that working with Hopkins in the slightest.

[SteveSmithTD89]

53 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

I'll be honest, the only team on that list that makes any sense is the Ravens, odd list.

Falcons are a worse team and will have a worse QB than we will

Raiders and Bills have Adams and Diggs, not sure how either offense can really work and keep everyone happy with two WRs who need double digit targets every game to be happy, only one ball to be thrown around.

And the Patriots OC is Bill O'Brien, can't see that working with Hopkins in the slightest.

I didnt say it was a good list, just that it was what Hopkins had relayed. 

I'd argue in terms of opportunity, scheme, QB, ability to pay him and chance of winning.... we may be the most logical/appealing option. 

We also may not be in on an alpha number 1 because we want to avoid the issues Cam and Smitty ran into with his development trying to feed a guy targets. That's pure speculation from me though.